Leeds RAG Fashion Show 2017; Samsara

Photo Credit: Lorna Brady
Last month,(my gosh LAST MONTH) we had Leeds RAG Fashion Show. An event of fashion all in the name of charity. This was the second year I had the privilege of being involved in the show and as a big part of the shows theme encompassed the idea of sustainability, I can certainly say that the show sat very close to my heart.

Photo Credit: Karl Spencer
The show had been in the making from Summer 2016, and so to finally see it to come together was incredible.

Two charities were chosen to be supported from the money raised by the show. The first was Cruelty Free International Trust, an organisation solely created to help stop animal testing, in particular that for the cosmetics trade. As some of you maybe aware, I went cruelty free on all my cosmetics products last summer and have never looked back, if you want to see why, check out my post here.

Our second charity was labour behind the label. A charity which work to push companies to improve their labour conditions and pay because sadly as they say on their website "Poverty wages, long hours, forced overtime, unsafe working conditions, sexual, physical and verbal abuse, repression of trade union rights and short term contracts are all commonplace in the clothing industry."...and it shouldn't be!

Photo Credit: Karl Spencer

This years show was sponsored by Deliveroo and No Curfew Events with Marks and Spencers also making a large donation to the charities which was incredible.

The show was broken down into six sections.

Photo Credit: Karl Spencer

Photo Credit: Keith Kaselampao

The first was all about getting back to the roots of the earth reflecting on the traditional styles many people associate with sustainability. The clothes early tones had in some way a basic hippy feel, and also something that you see in movies like the hunger games villages. I particularly loved the use of natural leaf shapes to really emphasis the theme.

Photo Credit: Keith Kaselampao

Photo Credit: Karl Spencer

The second scene was all about the elements, from oil, coal and water to diamonds. Now as someone who absolutely loves glitter and things that shimmer, this scene was absolutely incredible! The lights reflected perfectly of the gems and tassle jackets anad they models all worked the catwalk with ease. The use of body paint to create tops not only meant they looked incredible but also free the nipple was still very much apparent which I loved!

Photo Credit: Karl Spencer

Photo Credit: Karl Spencer

The third scene was minimalist clothing. This was to represent the slow fashion movement and that you don't need much to look incredible. I absolutely loved so many pieces from this especially the while turtle necks and the fabric used in the pink dress.

Photo Credit: Keith Kaselampao

Photo Credit: Lorna Brady

Photo Credit: Karl Spencer

Reworked Denim was the fourth scene in the show. The scene was all about how clothes can be reused to create new individual pieces that still look impressive. This entire scene had so much life and party it was just brilliant to watch, plus the reworked denim and fishnets looked fierce on the runway.

Photo Credit: Karl Spencer

Photo Credit: Karl Spencer

Photo Credit: Karl Spencer

Photo Credit: Karl Spencer

The next theme followed on nicely from the fourth by encompassing the idea of clothing revival. The pieces were all high end vintage fashion showing that just because its old doesn't mean it cant be in style. It was like getting to attend a really fancy ball as a fly on the wall. Everyone looked incredible! The brilliant thing about this scene was that although it was all vintage, every single piece looked perfect for the modern day, and that really shows have fashion and clothing life is a cycle. It doesn't have to end when we're done with it.

Photo Credit: Karl Spencer

The final scene was Samara, the same name as the show. Samara means world, and the cyclic changes including rebirth. The scene was dark and twisted, showing what the world could be like if sustainability isn't incorporated into the show. Everyone on the stage looked so striking. from makeup to PVC this scene really did have it all and was such a strong way to end the show.

Photo Credit: Keith Kaselampao

The entire show was fantastic with so many brilliant designers work being showcased as well.

Photo Credit: Lorna Brady

The fact that sustainability got to be represented on such a fantastic stage and allowing those people to be educated a little about the fashion industry was such a proud moment for me. The shows inclusive feel with the models as well was inspirational and I can only hope that the show goes form strength to strength in the coming years to build on the work of the past two shows.

Outfit- Shoes| ZARA, Dress| Topshop, Underdress| MissGuided

As events manager it was a pleasure to see the show build, from fundraisers to scene themes, but nothing will compare to getting to see the whole committees hard work pay off!